Designed for middle and junior high school students, the Human Sciences Program (HSP) represents a three year, interdisciplinary program which focuses on the role of the natural sciences in promoting the cognitive, psycho-social, and moral development of early adolescents. The materials consist of modules of activities designed around major themes…

Background information and exemplary units for teaching science in Georgia's middle school grades are provided. Discussed in the first section are: (1) the rationale for including science in middle school grades, focusing on science/society/technology, science/social issues, scientific reasoning, and scientific literacy; (2) role of science…

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) Human Sciences Project developed, produced, and field tested 13 interdisciplinary, non-traditional, non-text science curriculum modules for early adolescents, ages 11 to 14. The Human Sciences Data File- HSPALL (ED 211 383) contains evaluation data from the 1973-1976 field testing of the Human…

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) Human Sciences Project developed, produced, and field tested 13 interdisciplinary, non-traditional, non-text science curriculum modules for early adolescents, ages 11 to 14. A codebook (ED 211 382) contains the frequencies for the value of 23 variables for each of the 3,173 student-activity…

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) Human Sciences Project developed, produced, and field tested 13 interdisciplinary, non-traditional, non-text science curriculum modules for early adolescents, ages 11 to 14. The Codebook for Human Sciences Activity Characteristics on Reviewer Evaluation File--HSACRE (ED 211 384) contains 8 variables…

This teacher's manual provides general and specific guidelines for use of Teams-Games-Tournaments (TGT) Life Science Curriculum materials at the junior high-middle school level. TGT is an innovative instructional model which focuses on the learning of basic skills, information, and concepts, by rewarding students in small teams rather than at the…

Describes a science activity done with sixth graders during a unit on outer space. Uses the "Discovery Lab" software program to introduce controlled and experimental variables to the children. Discusses the coordination of library research, computer time, and creative drawing to study planetary environments by designing representative aliens. (CW)

A prevailing assumption underlying statewide performance-based assessments is that they not only serve as motivators in improving student achievement and learning, they also encourage instructional strategies and techniques in the classroom that are more consistent with reform-oriented educational outcomes. Given these high expectations, more…

An eighth-grade science teacher shares her successes and strategies for designing and implementing an individualized scientific investigation approach for students with three major problems: (1) low reading ability, (2) high absenteeism, and (3) limited background in science. (ZWH)

Presents activities to supplement lessons on length and mass measurement or as part of a unit on atoms or orders of magnitude. Provides a lesson plan using aluminum foil to estimate unit measures, calculate the foil's thickness, and do an atom count. (MDH)

The nine-factor productivity model of science achievement of H. J. Walberg (1981) was tested through structural equation modeling using national longitudinal data on middle-school seventh grade students' science achievement (n=3,116). The better fit provided by a revised model with eight factors is discussed, and implications for educational…

Describes using the movie "Jurassic Park" as a foundation for a middle school interdisciplinary unit involving science, math, language arts, history, and geography. Suggested books and activities are presented. (PR)

Presents an activity in which students develop science process skills by making inferences as to the contents of a "mystery" box from observations based on their sensory perceptions. Provides instructions for implementing and extending the activity. (MDH)

The National Student Research Center (NSRC) is dedicated to promoting student research and the use of the scientific method in all subject areas across the curriculum, especially science and mathematics. The NSRC facilitates the implementation of a nationally recognized, innovative, and highly effective approach to instruction called the Student…

The traditional differences in philosophy and approaches to teaching and learning between colleges of education and sciences have been repeatedly cited as one of the major obstacles in providing appropriate teacher training programs. In an effort to alleviate this problem, Wright State University (Ohio) has fostered a unique environment through a…